Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

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skid-roe
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Location: Yakima, WA

Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by skid-roe »

Now that Robert Dustin has retired from making 1 1/2" scale locomotive Builders plates, who still makes them?
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BAdams
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Location: Moreno Valley, CA

Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by BAdams »

I'm not familiar with this company but they were listed on a similar thread/topic earlier: https://www.loco-nameplates.co.uk/
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

I had Diane make some etched plates for me for something else and she did a great job. I did supply the artwork; I don't know if she has a stock of art like Dustin did. If you can produce your own art in an Illustrator compatible file there are companies that still make letterpress printing plates who can do the work for you. Google should find one near you.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
Kevin S
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Kevin S »

Check out Black Hills Designs on Facebook.
-Kevin S.
SteveM
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by SteveM »

Can you get someone to 3-D print a decent one and use that as a pattern?

Steve
Gra2472
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by Gra2472 »

I had a custom number plate made for my locomotive by a challenge coin manufacturer in Los Angeles. Unfortunately I had to order a minimum of 50. Now I have spares, and few to give away as favors.
Attachments
number plate 2.jpg
7.5" Allen Mogul
3 x 7.5" West Valley Baldwin Westinghouse Electrics
The railroad is almost done.
G. Augustus
Monte Rio, Ca.
k36no4862002
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Location: Surrey, UK

Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by k36no4862002 »

I found this guy on Facebook, not used him yet but worth an email.
Nameplates@mail.com
Paul Edmonds,
Surrey, United Kingdom.
2.5" Scale D&RGW K36, 1/6" Scale Challenger 4-6-6-4 (nearly done!!)
k36no4862002
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Location: Surrey, UK

Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by k36no4862002 »

FYI, I had diane carney do my builders plates.for the K36 years ago and they still look great, I just supplied the photo of the plate and a dimension and they did the rest.
I'll be getting some plates.from somewhere in the new year for the challenger, when I do ill post some.pics
Paul
Paul Edmonds,
Surrey, United Kingdom.
2.5" Scale D&RGW K36, 1/6" Scale Challenger 4-6-6-4 (nearly done!!)
KarlKobel
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by KarlKobel »

There was an article in a recent Live Steam & Outdoor Railroading from Chris Ruby about etching one yourself.
I have made my first attempt, but I used a H2O2 - Vinegar concoction. While it did etch (maybe 0.020" deep), the acid wasn't strong enough. It took 4 batches of about 8 hours each. I'm going to attempt electrolysis next.

Karl
steamingon
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by steamingon »

Check out this UK Ebay seller; livesteam75014

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?odkw= ... n&_sacat=0
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BMC
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by BMC »

I had a number plate 3d printed in sintered stainless steel/bronze from Shapeways. You would need to model the plate and export to an acceptable file size for the site.

One plate (1-1/2" scale) cost about $35 in 2016 however I understand their pricing structure may have escalated since then. I silver soldered a mounting bracket to the back of the plate without issue.

Brennan
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image (3).png
image (4).png
KarlKobel
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Re: Who makes 1 1/2" scale Builders and number plates?

Post by KarlKobel »

I didn't want to reply until my experiment was complete.

Here is my builders plate just out of the tank and steel wool'd a bit.

IMG_20201231_113332.jpg

I will clean it up a bit more and decide how/if I want paint it.

The process is similar to Cris Ruby's; toner transfer and etch. However, I didn't etch with acid, I used electrolysis.
Salt water
Stainless steel electrode (minus)
~6V and ~2A
I can't give you a time as I kept losing the positive electrode wire. It was maybe 8 hours. I need a better method of attachment to the plate.

Nice job Brennan (he knows I've already seen it ;))!
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